SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, April 18: In a repeat of past confrontations, the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi has once again witnessed a fallout between the Health Minister and its Director, resulting in the premature removal of Director Dr. Raj Kumar.
Appointed on January 31, 2024, for a three-year term, Dr. Kumar was sacked on April 17, 2025—22 months before the completion of his tenure.
While the official reason cited for his dismissal was the Governing Council’s dissatisfaction with his performance, unofficial sources point to escalating tensions between Dr. Kumar and Jharkhand’s Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari.
A heated exchange during a recent Governing Body meeting is believed to have been a flashpoint, but sources suggest the dispute had been brewing for some time.
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Past Repeats Itself: Director vs Health Minister
This isn’t the first time a RIMS director has exited under contentious circumstances. In 2020, former director Dr. D.K. Singh also resigned following disagreements with then-Health Minister Banna Gupta. Dr DK Singh was appointed on November 17, 2018 and resigned in June 2020.
Despite support from Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Dr. Singh resigned after being offered the position of Executive Director at AIIMS Bathinda. Their conflict reportedly centered around appointments to third- and fourth-grade positions in the institution.
Security Recruitment Sparks Tensions
The current fallout between Dr. Irfan Ansari and Dr. Raj Kumar is said to have stemmed from disagreements over the recruitment of approximately 100 private security personnel. Students had demanded the replacement of home guard personnel with private security staff, prompting both the Minister and the Director to seek influence over the recruitment process.
Allegations have surfaced involving Bablu Khan, whose private security agency had earlier provided guards at RIMS but was removed after multiple complaints. With Dr. Ansari assuming office, Khan reportedly sought to regain the contract. Khan also operates a hospital located behind RIMS, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
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ICMR Fund and Clashing Interests
Another major point of contention was the implementation of projects funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has reportedly allocated around ₹1,500 crore to RIMS for various research initiatives.
Both the Minister and the Director reportedly clashed over control and guidelines related to these projects, resulting in an ego battle that further strained their relationship.
Faculty and Student Discontent
Sources within the institution claim that a majority of RIMS faculty members were dissatisfied with Dr. Kumar’s leadership. They criticized him for focusing more on authoring a personal book rather than institutional development.
Student discontent also grew when Dr. Kumar banned the celebration of Saraswati Puja on campus. In contrast, Health Minister Dr. Ansari not only permitted the celebration but personally attended the event to show solidarity with the students.
